Zolpidem - Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders

In the United States, zolpidem is available as tablets under the brand name of Ambien. These drugs help people sleep. Zolpidem is classified as a hypnotic drug.

However, people taking other drugs that cause drowsiness, people who have severe health problems, especially liver disease, and older people (over age 65) should take a lower dose, usually 5 mg. Unlike some sleeping pills, the sleep-facilitating effects appear to last six to eight hours. The usual dose of zolpidem in adults is 5–10 mg. Zolpidem should be taken immediay before bedtime and only if the person can count on getting seven or eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. It usually takes only about 30 minutes for the sleep-inducing actions of zolpidem to be felt. For healthy adults, 10 mg is commonly recommended.

The maximum dose for one day is 10 mg. Zolpidem should be taken exactly as directed by the prescribing physician. For the fastest sleep onset, it should be taken on an empty stomach. Under no circumstances should a person take more than 10 mg in one day. If zolpidem is taken with a meal, it will take longer to work. People who miss a dose of zolpidem should skip the missed dose, and take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time.

As a result, most people using zolpidem usually awake feeling refreshed in the morning. Zolpidem is a central nervous system depressant. Although the way zolpidem helps people sleep is not entirely understood, it is believed to mimic a chemical in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that naturally helps to facilitate sleep. Unlike some sleeping pills, zolpidem does not interfere with the quality of sleep or usually leave the user feeling sedated in the morning. This means that it slows down the nervous system.

Other less common side effects are anxiety, confusion, dizziness, and stomach upset. Although drowsiness is desired when trying to fall asleep, a few people continue to be drowsy the next day. Side effects that occur in more than 5% of patients are headache, nausea, muscle aches, and drowsiness. Daytime drowsiness may cause people, especially the elderly, to be less coordinated and more susceptible to falls.

Zolpidem is especially helpful for people who have trouble falling asleep. If sleeping pills are needed for a long period, an evaluation by a physician is recommended to determine if another medical condition is responsible for the insomnia. Zolpidem is a drug that is used to treat insomnia. Zolpidem should be used only for short periods, approximay seven to ten days. However, once individuals have fallen asleep, zolpidem also helps them continue to sleep restfully.

Some examples include alcohol, antidepressants such as imipramine or paroxetine, antipsychotics such as thioridazine, and antihistamines (commonly found in allergy and cold medications). Any drug that causes drowsiness may lead to substantially decreased mental alertness and impaired motor skills when taken with zolpidem.

The effectiveness of zolpidem may be reduced if taken with rifampin, an antibiotic that is commonly used to treat tuberculosis infections.

Some sleeping pills such as zolpidem can cause aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations, and amnesia (memory problems), rapid, racing heartbeat, and chest pains. These side effects are rare, but the patient should call a physician immediay if they occur.

Zolpidem can be habit-forming when taken over a long period. People using zolpidem should not stop taking the drug suddenly, but gradually reduce the dose over a few days before quitting, even if zolpidem has been used only a for short time. If zolpidem is needed for more than seven to ten days, patients should be re-evaluated by a physician to determine if another disorder is causing their difficulty sleeping. When zolpidem or other sleeping pills are used every night for more than a few weeks, they begin to lose their effectiveness and/or people may become dependent upon them to fall asleep.

Zolpidem should be used only with close physician supervision in people with liver disease and in the elderly, because these individuals are especially sensitive to the sedative properties of zolpidem. Zolpidem should not be used before driving, operating machinery, or performing activities that require mental alertness. People with a history of drug abuse, psychiatric disorders, or depression should be carefully monitored when using zolpidem since zolpidem may worsen symptoms of some psychiatric disorders. Because zolpidem is used to help people fall asleep, it should not be used with other drugs (either over-thecounter, herbal, or prescription) that also cause drowsiness (for example, antihistamines or alcohol).